SaveChicago-area taxi operators claim in a lawsuit that the city is violating their rights by allowing the unregulated ride-share services run by Uber Technologies Inc. and Lyft Inc. to operate on its streets.The failure to apply taxi and limousine rules to the two San Francisco-based companies threatens to devalue the more-than 6,800 operating permits issued by the city, which have a total market value of $2.38 billion, according to a complaint filed today by the cabbies and their trade association in federal court in Chicago.Uber, Lyft and other companies that provide smartphone applications to connect drivers with people looking for a ride have spurred lawsuits from coast to coast, including a wrongful death case over a child pedestrian’s death in San Francisco and a complaint in New York similar to the one in Chicago.The companies typically take a cut of fees from transactions booked through their apps. They say they’re different from taxi dispatchers and shouldn’t be compelled to comply with existing regulation.Not enforcing the taxi rules against the companies violates federal constitutional guarantees of equal protection under the law and breaches the taxi operators’ contracts with the city, according to the complaint. It also enables unregulated drivers to discriminate against the elderly or poor who may not be able to use a smartphone to summon one of their cars.The lawsuit comes one day after Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel sent the city council a proposed ordinance that would require the licensing of transportation network providers. Licenses would cost $25,000 each plus $25 for each driver registered with the network on the day the application is submitted.The legislation also includes insurance provisions, minimum vehicle standards and signage requirements.A lawsuit seeking to block the ordering of rides via smartphone applications was filed last year against the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission and was later dismissed. A 12-month TLC pilot program was later allowed. An appeal of that dismissal is still pending.‘Unlawful Transportation’The cabbies are seeking unspecified money damages and a court order compelling Chicago to enforce the rules against operators the cab companies call “unlawful transportation providers.”Roderick Drew, a spokesman for Chicago’s law department, said the claims have no merit and the city will move to dismiss the case.“Plaintiffs’ various complaints raise questions of public policy that are properly addressed through the legislative process, not legal claims that should be litigated in court,” he said in an e-mailed statement.While discussed in the complaint, Uber, Lyft and a third San Francisco-based company, Side.Cr LLC, which does business as Sidecar, aren’t named as defendants.“After years of neglecting Chicago drivers and passengers alike, the taxi industry has resorted to name-calling and frivolous lawsuits,” Uber said today in a statement. “While they spend time in court, we’ll be working with Mayor Emanuel to design a forward-looking regulatory regime that creates economic opportunity, prioritizes safety, and ensures access to the best, cheapest rides ever available in the city.”Uber was sued in a California state court in San Francisco by the parents of a 6-year-old girl who was struck by a car linked to the company. Uber said Jan. 1 that the driver was “a partner of Uber” who wasn’t providing services on the Uber system during the time of the accident.Paige Thelen, a spokeswoman for Lyft, said the company had no comment on the taxi operators’ suit.“We are glad to see the mayor is committed to crafting a framework to allow for multiple transportation options to exist in Chicago,” she said in an e-mailed statement. “As it stands now, the proposed ordinance would not support the continued operation of Lyft.” The company will continue its ongoing dialog with city officials, Thelen said.Sidecar’s media relations staff didn’t immediately respond to an e-mailed request for comment on the lawsuit.The case is Illinois Transportation Association v. The City of Chicago, 14-cv-00827, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).To contact the reporter on this story: Andrew Harris in federal court in Chicago ataharris16@bloomberg.net

When planning a night out, one of the biggest discussions is who will drive. If you are planning on drinking, having a designated driver is always the best bet. But what happens when everyone wants to "have a good time". You still need a designated driver which makes a limousine or sedan a great option. Having a chartered vehicle means no driving, no parking woes, no valet issues, and the freedom to get around with out worrying about how to do it. No Traffic or Getting Lost No Traffic.I know that caught your attention. Chartering a vehicle will not make all the traffic and congestion go away; but it will make it feel that way because you are not the one driving. You can relax while the chauffeur deals with the stop and go, the anxious drivers cutting in and out of lanes to get there quicker than you, and any bad weather you may have to drive through. It is also nice to know that your driver will know how to get where you are going and you do not have to look up directions. Even if it is a new area; chances are that the chauffeur may have been there before. Parking and Valet Issues DisappearNow that you have got to your location; the next issue if you are driving is to decide what to do with your vehicle. Is there a garage or parking lot nearby; if there is, is it safe? How expensive is it and is it in a good location if you are going to dinner and a show. Maybe there is a Valet service. Many of us have heard the stories about Valets parking cars in no parking zones and throwing away tickets or maybe stealing something from the vehicle or getting into a fender bender and not saying anything when you pick up the car. All these issues can be avoided if you charter a vehicle. Go Anywhere AnytimeOne of the big pluses of charter a vehicle is you are free to go anywhere you want when you want. No worries about getting the car from one garage or valet and moving it to another. If your vehicle is on charter; one phone call to the driver and it will be ready and waiting as you exit. Just think, a nice warm car in the winter or a nice cool car in the summer the minute you walk out the door. No waiting for it to warm or cool. Maybe you add an extra trip somewhere since you have a chartered car. Maybe a nice drive to look at Holiday lights or a trip by the lake shore or through the park. You have the opportunity to do what you want when you want. Makes a Night Out SimpleChartering a vehicle makes it simple to plan an evening out for you and your loved one or a whole group of friends. Most companies have many sizes and types of vehicles to choose from. If you charter for a group and split the cost; it becomes very inexpensive and makes it easy. If you could charter a vehicle; where would you have it take you?

When you need ground transportation, give Suburban Rides a call. Suburban Rides, the easiest and most cost-effective way to get to and from the airport, meeting or special event from your home, office or hotel. Suburban Rides is one of the leading ground transportation companies, providing door-to-door service to thousands of passengers each year. Our courteous dispatch service, professional drivers, comfortable sedans, limousines, minivans, buses and reasonable rates take the hassle out of getting to and from any destination including:

Mark your calendar NOW for September 9-15, 2013 for this year’s BMW Championship! Furthermore, you are also going to want to reserve your chauffeur-driven car or limousine from Suburban Rides. Whether you are a golfer participating in the BMW Championship, a die-hard fan, one of the estimated 2,000 volunteers, or an event sponsor, you are going to want something much more than a run-of-the mill rental car. Suburban Ridesoffers affordable rates, exceptional service and our consistent reliability has made us one of the leaders in car service throughout the Chicago suburbs. Just like the professional golfers that not only play but perform on the PGA TOUR, Suburban Ridesperforms so that you can experience the difference that our attention to every detail makes. As all of our previous clientele know, customer service is Suburban Rides Number One Priority! We also offer coach bus transportation service as well for your larger corporate parties!

Suburban Rides is aware of the Lake Forest area. We are well aware of our clients’ needs and preferences. Customer satisfaction is Suburban Rides Number One Priority! With the upcoming BMW Championship occurring in Lake Forest at the Conway Farms Golf Club this September 9-15, we have already begun to receive inquiries about our affordable and reliable ground transportation service. That’s why whenever our prior clients know they will be coming into the Greater Chicago Metropolitan Area for a tournament; Suburban Ridesis an alternative to other overpriced ground transportation services. We will pick them up at the airport and our highly-trained drivers will guarantee they arrive at their destination on time and in comfort.

When you need ground transportation, give Suburban Rides a call. Suburban Rides, the easiest and most cost-effective way to get to and from the airport, meeting or special event from your home, office or hotel. Suburban Rides is one of the leading ground transportation companies, providing door-to-door service to thousands of passengers each year. Our courteous dispatch service, professional drivers, comfortable sedans, limousines, minivans, buses and reasonable rates take the hassle out of getting to and from any destination including:

Many planners say ground transportation is not a big deal. One word answer: wrong. Yes, it may not be as important as the content of the meeting or the goal of why you are having the meeting or event. It is however the first and last thing your guests will experience at the event. Therefore you want both experiences to be positive ones. I am not saying you have to spend oodles of money on ground transportation; just take the effort to make sure it is done right. Make sure enough time is given to planning, the arrivals, transportation during their stay, and the departures. Having all of these go flawlessly will raise everyone's opinion of your event greatly. First impressions will stick in the guests' heads through out the meeting.

Planning The biggest part to any event is the planning stage. If time is given to make sure plans are accurate and thorough, the even should go smoothly. Many factors are considered when planning ground transportation. Several stages make up the complete program, the first being airport arrivals and then any services needed between the meeting location and the hotels where the guests are staying. Maybe there are dine-arounds or off-site events that guests will need to be transported to. Finally, there are departures to get all of the guests back to the airport at the end of the meeting. Each of these parts need to be planned and each has its own factors that need to be considered in the planning stages. Planners will need to figure out how many people need to be transported each time and if they all need to be moved at once or if they can be moved using fewer vehicles making multiple trips. Will VIPs need special transportation or is early transportation options needed for staff members that need to help set up events? Once you know what you need, you will have to find a good transportation company to handle the actual services.

Airport Arrivals Airport arrivals start with a good manifest that includes all the guests and has accurate flight information for each one. The planner or the chosen transportation company can look at this and create the most cost effective way of transporting the guests form the airport. This may include a combination of using sedans and smaller vehicles on slower days and bus shuttles on the main arrival day to transport everyone. The VIPs may need private sedan transportation during the main arrival day. You will also want to plan to have good coverage throughout the airport using the transportation company's greeters to meet the guests and make sure they get to their transportation. The planner should let the transportation company know what they should do for guests that arrive who are not on the manifest and if the planner needs to be notified if someone does not arrive at the airport.

Shuttles and Dine-Arounds A larger meeting may need a couple of different types of shuttles. The first may be between hotel or hotels where the guests are staying and a convention center or meeting venue for the actual event. These shuttles can be run in the AM and PM hours only with no mid-day service or it may be a continuous shuttle services between locations. Another shuttle may be for any off-site events or parties that may happen during the program. These shuttles are very similar except that they are usually always continuous service. Planning is needed to make sure these go well also. You will need to determine how many guests to transport and what type of equipment to use. If there are multiple hotels, will you be servicing each one or will some guests have to walk to other pick-up locations? Dine-arounds will vary depending on which type you are doing, it could be the whole group going to one restaurant or many smaller groups going to several different restaurants. Handling the multiple locations will need extra vehicles, staging area, and staffing to ensure a smooth operation.

Departures This part of the ground transportation in most cases is the easiest to plan and operate. Once you have the manifest, you can group the guests by hotel departure times. Make sure that you leave enough travel time so they arrive at the airport with enough time to easily check-in and make it through the security scanning. Smaller departures can be handled by sedans, SUVs, and vans while larger groups may use a mini or motorcoach to be transported. It is always a good idea to have a dispatcher overseeing the departures to ensure that all the guests are on the correct transfer. Just because this is the easiest part does not mean you can let your guard down. This is also the last experience they will have at your meeting so you don't want it to be a bad one.

How much planning time do you give to your ground transportation? Do you consider it an important part of your overall program?

When you need ground transportation, give Suburban Rides a call. Suburban Rides, the easiest and most cost-effective way to get to and from the airport, meeting or special event from your home, office or hotel. Suburban Rides is one of the leading ground transportation companies, providing door-to-door service to thousands of passengers each year. Our courteous dispatch service, professional drivers, comfortable sedans, limousines, minivans, buses and reasonable rates take the hassle out of getting to and from any destination including: